Karthik Subbaraj is a famous Indian movie director, screenwriter, and producer. He works mostly in Tamil cinema. He became famous because he tells different and interesting stories in his movies. He loves to try new styles in his films, which makes him special. Karthik is known for films like Pizza, Jigarthanda, and Petta with superstar Rajinikanth.
Early Life & Background
Karthik Subbaraj was born on 19 March 1983 in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. His father, Gajaraj, is also an actor who works in Tamil films. Karthik studied at SBOA School in Madurai. He later went to Thiagarajar College of Engineering, where he studied Mechatronics Engineering.
Even though he studied engineering, Karthik always loved movies. While in college, he used to act in dramas and stage shows. That’s when he realized he wanted to tell stories through films.
After college, he worked as a software engineer at Infosys in Bangalore. But even while working, his dream was to become a film director. He joined a short filmmaking workshop, and that helped him follow his passion.
Also Read: Vaibhav Suryavanshi Biography
Career & Achievements
- First Movie – Karthik’s first movie was called Pizza. It was a horror thriller film and came out in 2012. It was made on a low budget but became a big hit. People loved the story and were very surprised by the twists. This movie made Karthik famous. It was even remade in other languages.
- Jigarthanda, After Pizza, Karthik made a movie called Jigarthanda, which was about a gangster and a filmmaker. The movie had action, drama, and suspense. It became very popular. Actor Bobby Simha, who played a gangster, even won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for this movie.
- Iraivi (2016), Karthik made another film called Iraivi, which means “Goddess”. This movie was about women and how men’s decisions affect their lives. It was a serious and emotional film. People appreciated his effort to show women’s lives and struggles.
- Mercury Karthik made a very different kind of film in 2018 called Mercury. It was a silent thriller, meaning there was no talking in the film! It starred actor Prabhu Deva. The movie didn’t do well in theatres, but it showed that Karthik was not afraid to try new things.
- Petta ,In 2019, Karthik got a big chance to direct Rajinikanth in the movie Petta. Rajinikanth is a superstar in India, so this was a big achievement for Karthik. The movie was a hit and fans loved it. It had action, style, and old-school Rajinikanth charm.
- Jagame Thandhiram In 2021, he made Jagame Thandhiram starring Dhanush. It was released on Netflix. The film had a gangster theme and was set in both India and the UK.
- Mahaan Karthik made another movie in 2022 called Mahaan. It starred famous actor Vikram and his son Dhruv Vikram. The film was released on Amazon Prime Video
- Jigarthanda DoubleX , in 2023, Karthik made Jigarthanda DoubleX, a sequel to his hit movie Jigarthanda. It had new characters and storylines, but the same cool style.
Other Work
Karthik is also a producer. He has his own film company called Stone Bench Creations. He helps young filmmakers by producing short films, web series, and movies. Some of his productions include:
- Penguin (2020)
- Triples (2020)
- Boomika (2021)
- Ammu (2022)
Personal Life & Style
Karthik Subbaraj is married and lives with his family. He is a very creative person and likes to explore different ideas in films. He gets inspired by famous directors like Quentin Tarantino, but he always adds his own Indian touch.
Interesting Facts & FAQs
- Karthik’s first movie Pizza was made with very little money but became a big hit.
- His movie Mercury had no dialogues at all!
- He has worked with superstars like Rajinikanth, Dhanush, and Vikram.
- He started his journey from a TV show called Naalaya Iyakunar.
Final Thoughts
Karthik Subbaraj is an inspiration for young people who want to follow their dreams. Even though he was an engineer, he listened to his heart and became a movie director. His story shows us that with hard work, passion, and courage, we can achieve anything.